Wheeled gun-carriage with wide scope of fire.



E. RIMAILHO.

WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE WITH WIDE SCOPE OF FIRE.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE 11. 1914.

Patented July 9, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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E. RIMAILHO.

WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE WITH WIDE SCOPE OF FIRE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 171914.

1 ,272, 1 06. Patented July 9, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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INVENTOR L/ ATTORNEYS wnmssses m: NORR'S PE'rrRs :30 v prmrn unwWASHINGTON. n. c.

E. RIIVIAILHO.

WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE WITH WIDE SCOPE OF FIRE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17. I914.

Patented July 9, 1918.

4 $HEETS-5HEET 3.

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l m TM 0 NE T w T 5 A A WITNESSES E. RIMAILHO.

WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE WITH WIDE SCOPE OF FIRE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1? I914- Pat-ented July 9, 1918 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4-INVE NTOR. fM/LE firm WSTNESSES ILHO ATT RN YJ ,L- Noam: Pzrs/u caFnamuYna.. wAsmNcron. n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMILE RIMAILHO, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO COMPAGNIE DES FORGES ETACIERIES DE LA MARINE E'l DHOMECOURT, 0F PARIS, FRANCE.

WHEELED GUN CARRIAGE WITH WIDE SCOPE OF FIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1918.

Application filed June 17, 1914. Serial No. 845,578.

To all whom z'tmay concern:

Be it known that I, EMILE RIMAILHo, a citizen of the French Republic,and residing in Paris, France, 98 Rue de la Victoire, consultingengineer, have invented certain new and useful improvements in andrelating to Wheeled Gun-Carriages with Wide Scope of Fire, of whichthefollowing is a complete specification.

In those gun carriages which at the moment of firing are in contact withthe ground at four points, the latter points are represented on the onehand by the lower part of each of the wheels, (hereinafter called theaxle wheel system) and on the other hand by the ends of two trails(hereinafter called the trail'system), special arrangement having to bemade in order to enable all the four points of support to grip theground during the firing.

The object of the present invention is the construction of a guncarriage in which the above purposes are secured, by connecting theaxle-wheel system to the trail system through the agency of a sphericalor ball joint, the male part of which is carried by one of the twosystems and the female part by the other; the carriage proper, carryingthe pivot which supports the gun can form part either of the axle-wheelsystem or of the trail system. I

On the drawings annexed:

Figure 1 is a plan with a part section of a first working construction,

Fig. 2 is an elevation with part section,

Fig. 3 is a section through AB of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a section through C-D of Fig. 2,

Figs. 5 to 7 are similar views of another working construction,

Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a plan with section and cross section ofa variant,

Figs. 10 and 11 are details,

Figs. 12 to 18 show another working construction, in which Fig. 12 is anaxial longitudinal section on the line GG of Fig. 16.

Fig. 13 is a vertical section on the hne H-Hof Fig. 12. a

Fig. 14 is a vertical section on the line II of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a vertical section on the line JJ of Fig. 12.

Fig. 16 is a plan with part section on the line E-E of Fig. 12. V

Fig. 17 is a horizontal section on the line F-F of Fig. 12.

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 16 showmg the trails and the smallcarriage in another position relatively to the axle.

' Fig. 1 shows by way of example, a workmg construction in which themale part- 1 of the ball joint, is carried by the trail system, thefemale part 2 being carried by the axle-wheel; Fig. 2 shows in this casethe body 3 of a gun carriage fixed to the system axle-wheel by means ofthe axle 4 and carrying the recess 5 for receiving the pivot supportingthe gun.

Fig. 5 shows by way of example a form of construction in which the malepart 1 of the ball joint is carried by the axle-wheel system, and thefemale part 2 is carried by the trail system. Figs. 6 and 7 in this caseshow a gun carriage body 3 fixed in the trail system and carrying therecess 5 for the gun pivot.

Figs. 1 to 7 likewise show the connections which allow all the relativemovements which the two systems are required to .be able to carry out,in relation to each other. The ball joint allows the trail system (Fig..1) to pass from position 6, 7 to position 6., 7 the line 8 of the pointof. sup port of the butt endsv being parallel to the axle when the axisof the trail system is perpendicular to the axis, but being able to takeup the position 8 and 8 oblique relatively to the axle, according totherequirements of the ground.

Fig. 4 shows that the ball joint also allows the trail system 6, 7 to beinclined relatively to the axle from. right to left or from left toright as required by the ground while the axle remains horizontal.

Finally if we consider the movement of elevation which the trail systemmust be capable of undergoingaround the axle, journal when the butt endsare raised, for instance, it may be desirable to include the whole ofthe carriage in this movement; with this object, for the workingconstructions of Figs. 1 to 4, a sliding piece 9 is able to undergolateral displacement in the wide window 10 contained between thesupowing to theballjoint', to assume right'and left of that perpe idicular to the axle, the movement allowing the system to"'incl1ne "toand 7, the possibilities of inclining the system on eithefside oftheperpendiculartothe axle and making it lean-right or le'ft,1are

provided byfthe cut away. 'parts12 inthe cap 13 forming the socketinto'which the ball 1 'fits3'a's regards the actuationor,; di"ive ofthesystemaround the-axle, it is brought about by thei' permanentconnection of ithe trails and-the un carriage body 6), a cylindrical pin14 (Figs: 10 and ;11);;be-

longing tothecarria ge body projects into {and is surrounded by a anoscillating tube 15 cwhich is providedto oscillate? in a. slot, "in

theaxlefor: the purposeof constantly di- 'i'ecting the axle journals inrelation to the fcarriage trails.

The foregoing working constructions have shown a joint in whichtherballwaso'c'omjplte." Figs. 8;"and-9represent-a variant which; showsfithatit: isnpossible to confine oneselfto apart 'ball 21, the center of Whichmaybeplaced eitherfabove orbel'ow the axle or'elseon the axleitself. 1"Evidently the' ball andthe socket joint can be replaced by a Cardanjoint,and"the efiects' described above thus obtained.

the abovvdescrilo'ed constructional forms, andmore particularly-in thoseillustr atedfon F igs'. 1.to.4,- the ball" ofi-the joint between thetraill-"sys'tem and the axlewheel? s'ysteni is arranged-"below: the axleand in front of it; the: small carriage which su ports the gun beiiig;pivoted in a lodg- 'ment" "fixedly connected with the axle tube.

" In'the workin'gtconstructiort of. Figs. '12

"to 1 8, the center of "theball'of'the joint is "brought bkIJGkOIIthBLQXIS of the axle, which results in I rendering the whole lighter{and simpler in -'construction,' as the pivot-of the small carriage'maythen' be arranged on the ing through t-he'agencybf the. axle'tube orIn this constriictional'f'orm, the horseshoe "part; of" the -tra ilsystem'ends in a ball 42lodged in a; recess of the same shape 43"provided inthaxle l4,"in which recessit is" heldby means of twothreaded half col- Tare-45 (Fi 12 and-:14).

provided-a bearing 'recess46 of a rectangular cross section," lntended 2to receive. a socket I'n this horse shoe shaped part 41 there is 47which can oscillate about gudgeons 42$ he right or to the left owing tothe same ball joint isequally possible. In the working construction ofFigs. 5, 6

It.will beremarkedthat, in 4' 1131911v l(1Figs, 12;;to 1 "Z) thepivot4;9'of the "small carriage is mounted; on the ,tr'ail 'pfarallelto theaxle,

and in which the pivot 49 of the small car- -1.. 'w :1. p 1 arage a0 smounted. .The bearmg recess 16 is suitably bell-mounted in its upperpart "and its lower part to allow of the pivoting of the traiP systemabout the" horizontal axis.

The spherical part of the axle carries on *its upper race a-ylindri'calvertical pin 51, the axis of which passes through the center "arms-tanand which serves as a pivot' for plate 5.2 belonging to the socket 18 ofgudgeon 47. This plate carries a toothed segment 53 on'which thepinion54; for direction pointing rnns. That is, when carriage is operated bypinion 54; it is merely for the purpose of training, andthe pinion 54Lmay control any displacement of carriage 5O independently' ofthe trail1;; pinion 5% be ingjcontrolledby a wormwheel as indicated :in Fig; 12.1;The plateis-held in a. suitable position relatively to theaxl'eby meansoptv a triple clamping arrangement 55%56 57. I (Figs; 12,15, and: 16)concentric with the cylindrical pin. 'lhe bottom of the plate 52.carr'iesion: the back a cylindrical part 58 (Fig concentric. .with the,axis of the plate isfsupported on the cross bar {l1 of the li'orse-shoe.:A fwa'sher 59 (Figs. 12 and 13) likewise having a cylindrical surfaceis in- .terposedbetweenthe lower part of. this cross bar l'and the. headoft-hescrew 60 which fixes theigpivot 49.; l the' ball rests onthe axleThe neck 61- of by means of a'jtwopart collar 12 and 114) of v circularinternal; [section .and

gudgeons 485 113 means of -which part-the polygonalexternal, section, soas to provide a 1 suitable bearing; surface. for I allgt'lie; positionsof tITiLIlSVQISQlnqllliatlbn 1 this construcsystemitself-,mwhich'enables the trails. to support directly-the strainoffiring, while admitting- .of thejtransvrse pivotingand lateraldisplacement. of ,5 the f tr a il-l, system.

ter with reference totheaxle r i 7 When the two f trails": arelater allydisplaced, they causefyto pivot about the cytively of the transversedirection of the lat- ..lindrical. pin; 5;1 the plate .52 and the wholeof the small carriage 50 and the, gun itself wrelatively tothewheel-axle system this I group as a wholebeing' displaced in a plane Itwill be seen furthermore that.when

:the. rear ends: are Eraised the movement of elevation undergone by the"traili'system, I

' around :the; axle; journals carries the 'entire gun carriage alongWlth'lt;

The arrangement described of a spherical The gudgeonsftS byz no nieansformanax'is fj gnl at l tor the: r i s. bu n. e y unsurmgiconstailtconnection between the i r aendf h ai s, r spe 115.

recess 43 provided in the center of the axle enables the wheel brakecontrol to be lodged here so as to reduce the space occupied by thecarriage a whole, and preventing the dust making its way into thisbrake.

This control comprises a box 63 (Figs. 12 and 17) mounted in aninvariable position in a tube end 64 of the recess 43. This box carriesat its outside end a hand wheel 65 fixedly connected with a screw 66mounted so as to be able to turn without longitudinal displacement. Thisscrew is in engagement with a nut 67 sliding in the box 63 andsupporting a plate 68 on which is pivoted a pulley 69. A cable 7 O, themiddle of which catches on this pulley, passes elsewhere onto two fixedguide pulleys 71 mounted in the recess 43, and its ends pass through theinterior of the axle 44 and run out to the usual wheelbrake controllevers, not shown, consisting of spring segments.

What I claim is 1. A wheeled gun carriage comprising an axle wheelframe, a trail frame united thereto by a ball and socket coupling,braking means carried by the wheels of the carriage, and means carriedby the ball and socket coupling for controlling the braking means.

2. A wheeled gun carriage comprising an axle wheel frame, and a trailframe coupled thereto by a ball and socket joint, the ball disposed inthe front of the trail frame and the socket disposed in the axle, saidtrail frame also provided with a pivotally mounted oscillatory small guncarriage.

3. A wheeled gun carriage comprising an axle wheel frame and a trailframe coupled thereto by a ball and socket joint, said joint consistingof a ball and neck thereon Copies of this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

held in a recess formed therein, a pair of threaded half collars, theneck resting on the axle and extending through a two part socket, theinternal section of which is cylindrical and the external section beingpo lygonal whereby a constant surface of support is obtainedirrespective of the direction of the trails relatingly to the axle.

4. In a wheeled gun carriage comprising an axle wheel frame and a trailframe coupled thereto by a ball and socket connecting a cylindricalsocket havin oppositely disposed gudgeons, said socket secured to aplate pivotally mounted on a vertical pin reaching from the upperportion of the axle, the axis of said pin passing through the center ofthe trail joint ball, said plate held to the axle by clamps concentricto the vertical pin, a tooth segment supported by said plate, directionpointing pinion meshing with said segment, said plate having acylindrical surface in its lower rear portion concentric with thegudgeons.

5. A wheeled gun carriage comprising in combination an axle wheel frameand a trail frame coupled thereto by a ball and socket connection, amovable pulley and fixed pulleys therein, a brake operating cablethreaded around said pulleys within the ball member of the socket,openings in the sides of the ball and the socket through which the endsof the cable may pass.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Paris (France), thisfifth day of J une, 1914.

EMILE RIMAILHO.

In the presence of two witnesses:

CHAs. P. PRESSLY, LOUIS CO UILLAT.

